Sirpur - Once a Very Popular and Important Buddhist Center back in the 5th Century

The ancient city of Sirpur (also called as Shirpur) has been mentioned in ancient epigraphic records, dating back to the 5th to the 8th centuries A.D.

Sirpur, located at just about 50 km from Raipur, is an enchanting and historically significant tourist’s destination in the Chhattisgarh state. The city was once the capital of the Sarbhapuriya and Somvanshi Kings of Dakshin (south) Kosala and was an important Buddhist centre. It was even visited by Hiuen Tsang, the great Chinese traveler and scholar, around 635 AD. The small but interesting town of Sirpur has many beautiful temples worth visiting.

Please feel free to view my Sirpur Archeological sites exploration photo gallery @ http://travel.webshots.com/album/557927205mUVovi